Pulmonaria longifolia 'DIANA CLARE' lungwort
Pulmonaria
Lungwort is a genus of about 16 perennial species originally found in woodlands and at streamsides in Europe and Asia, and for centuries has been used as a medicinal plant. Plants are characterized by pink and blue flowers, and many of them make large, very attractive, almost exotic looking leaves.
This lungwort was discovered by Bob Brown in his nursery in 1995, and named after his wife Diana Clare. It belongs to the large-leaved species and bears about 30 cm long, rather narrow, lanceolate, hairy leaves, whose surface is almost entirely covered with silver colour. Flowers are small, campanulate, dark pink at first, turning deep violet blue after pollination, and formed atop about 25 tall, fleshy stems from early spring - usually late March till late April.
Lungwort, especially its large-leaved forms need equally moist, fertile soil that does not dry out, or is waterlogged. It needs partial or complete shade, it is an ideal understory of tall trees providing only filtered sunlight. Use it in mixed beds with hostas or liriope. Hardy to approx. -30°C (USDA zone 5).
Last update 15-01-2018
